DARLINGTON have appointed former Republic of Ireland coach Steve Staunton as their new manager.

The former Republic of Ireland boss is likely to be assisted by Kevin Richardson.

Staunton, 40, played almost 300 games for Aston Villa and over 100 for Liverpool. He also won over 100 Republic of Ireland caps.

He took over as manager of the national team three years ago, but lost his job after they narrowly failed to qualify for Euro 2008.

He later had a spell as assistant manager at Leeds United - who Darlington face tomorrow at Elland Road in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy.

Richardson 46, who watched Darlington’s 1-0 defeat to Macclesfield Town at The Arena on Saturday, starred for Everton, Aston Villa and Arsenal.

He has coached at Sunderland, Stockport, and in the Newcastle United Academy.

They were chosen after chairman Raj Singh considered a long list of names who had shown an interest.

The duo will face a huge task in turning round the fortunes of a team that has picked up just two points from 11 games this season.

They lost on Saturday to a Macclesfield side that had gone into the game without an away win. A Jeff Smith own goal on 15 minutes piled on the misery for Quakers.

They were much improved in the second half. Curtis Main headed against the post, saw a goalbound shot blocked, and fired narrowly over the bar, while Steve Foster, Ian Miller also sent efforts flashing past the post.

Staunton will have some good young players to work with, Main and lively midfielder Dan Groves included, but he will probably have to bring fresh faces in to mastermind a turnaround.

Caretaker manager Craig Liddle, who has helped develop the youngsters, will be pleased to step back into his role with the youngsters.

“It is not my time for the manager’s job. I am too young and inexperienced,” he said.

But he praised the youngsters who have been promoted to the first team: “They are boys doing a man’s job. Curtis apologised to the lads for hitting the post when he felt he should have scored, but he had no need to apologise. He caused Macclesfield problems with his mobility and pace.

“Danny was excellent. He works his socks off and gets in the penalty area.

“The other midfielders are much of a muchness. He offers something different. He needs to learn to defend better, but that will come with experience.”

Striker Lee Thorpe will tomorrow undergo hernia surgery that will sideline him for a month.